Adjustable ratchet-wrench.



1. c. McEWEN. ADJUSTABLE RATCHET WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14. I915.

Patented June 27, 1916.

lung 7 IIIIEIII gig X INVENTO'R WgTNESSES ATTOR N EY TED STATES JOHN. C. McEWEN,OF BRIDe ievrLLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE RATCHET-WRENCH.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June at, 1916.

Application filed October 14, 1915. Serial No. 55,883.

To all whom it may concern 'sides in the provision ofa device of the above character wherein novel means are provided for adjusting the jaws to maintain them in closed relation with the sides of the work, said jaws in turn being provided with means for accommodating the adjusting means when they, the jaws, are arranged in close relation to each other.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of novel-adjustable jaws for association with a movable plate, said jaws being removable from the plate to permit the application of various sized jaws, the adjusting means for the jaws being incidentally provided with means for preventing accidental displacement of the jaws from the adjusting means.

A. further object of my invention resides in the provision of an improved plate having a ratchet and stem cast integrally therewith and the jaws and handle associated with these parts to provide a ratchet wrench composed of a few simple parts that are simple in construction, efiicient in operation, and that can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well asthe nature, characteristic features, and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and are pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification. l

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side elevationa-l view of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of my invention showing the jaws associated with a piece of work, shown in dotted lines, the dotted hand illustrating the manner in which the device is actuated; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of my invention; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 in the'didesignate other.

rection in which the arrow points to illustrate to advantage the construction and arrangement of the parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I'provide a rectangular plate 1 having beveled or dovetailed sides 2 for removably receiving my improved clamping means. The clamping means in this instance consists essentially of two complemental jaws 3, the upper surfaces of each of which are provided with dovetailed recesses 4' for removable association with plate 1; Extending from one end of each threaded ends of the rod 7. In order to operate the rods so that the jaws may bemoved toward and from each other I have formed a knurled operating element 8 intermediate the ends thereof, said element being receivable within the complemental recesses 9 in the blocks when it is desired to make a fine adjustment of the jaws with respect to each Cotter pins 9 are removably associated with the ends of the rod 5 and serve the purpose of preventing accidental displacement of the clamping jaws from the rod.

For the purpose of rotating the plate in various directions to consequently loosen or tighten a nut on the bolt or perform other similar operations, I have formed a ratchet wheel 10 integral with the upper surface of the plate substantially intermediate the ends thereof. From the upper surface of the ratchet wheel extends a central pivot 11, the outer end of which is reduced and threaded as illustrated by the numeral 12. Rotatably associated with the pivot projection 11 is the inner rounded end 13 of an operatinghandle 14, the handle being maintained in position through the medium of a washer 15 and a nut 16, the latter being adjustably and rewheel. The opposite end of the rod isbent at right angles and arranged for sliding movement in a slot 20 formed intermediate the ends of the handle. The extrem'eterminal of the angularly bent rod has'a knob 23 formed thereon with which the thumb of the user, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, may engage to remove the pawl 19 from the teeth. Suitable resilient means, preferably in the form of a coiled spring 20, one end of which is connected to the rod, while the opposite end bears against the outer guide 17, serves the purpose of normally maintaining the pawl 19 in engagement with the ratchet.

The operation of my invention is as follows: In order to adjust the work, which, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, is a nut on a bolt, the clamping jaws are adjusted on the plate 1 through the medium of the knurled operating element 8 until they are arranged in intimate contact with opposite sides of the nut. By rotating the handle 14, the pawl 19 being in engagement with the ratchet wheel 10 causes the plate to rotate and tighten the nut. Now, by engaging the knob with the thumb on the operating hand and drawing it outwardly through the slot against the tension of the spring 20, the pawl is disengaged and the handle rotated in a reverse direction without rotating the ratchet wheel and plate whereupon the knob is released and the pawl engaged in the teeth. After this has been accomplished, all that is necessary to do is to swing the lever in the direction in which it was rotated and by repeating this operation, the nut may be tightened on the bolt. It is also obvious that it can be untightened by reversing the operation.

Although I have above shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to be understood that Iam not to be limited to the exact details shown, however, I desire that great stress be laid upon the arrangement of the clamp jaws which are entirely removable from the plate by simply sliding the jaws and the clamping means therefore from the plate. This arrangementis to provide means for permitting of the application of various sized jaws. Attention is also directed to the fact that-the plate, ratchet, and pivot projection are formed in one piece in order to reduce the cost of manufacture of a device of this kind.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can easily be seen that I haveprovided a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and'assembled and when assembled can be placed upbn the market and sold at a mlnimumcost.

It will be understood that the above de scription and accompanying drawings comprehend only the preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proporjaws slidably and removably mounted on the plate and provided with complementalrecesses 1n the ad acent ends thereof, an ear pro ecting from one slde of each of the aws and arranged in alinement with the recesses,

an oppositely threaded rod for association with the cars, a knurled operating element integral with the rod intermediatethe ends thereof and adapted for reception within the recesses to permit of line adjustment of the jaws, a. ratchet integral with the plate, a handle rotatable with respect to the ratchet, and means associated with the handle for removably engaging the ratchet to rotate the ratchet and consequently rotatethe plate.

2. A ratchet wrench, includinga plate having beveled sides, clamping jaws provided with clove-tailed recesses in their upper surfaces for slidable and removable association with the plate, an. oppositely threaded rod adjustably associated with the jaws arranging the jaws invai'ious adjusted positions, p1ns removably associated with the respective ends of the rod for preventing accidental displacement of the jaws from the rod, a ratchet wheel formed integral with the upper surface 'of the plate, a pivot pro jection formed integral with and extending centrally from the ratchet wheel, the outer end of the pivot projection being reduced, a V f handle rotatably associated with the pivot projection, a nut on the reduced end for preventing displacement of the handle. and a manually operable spring pressed pawl slidably mounted on the handle for removable association with the ratchet wrench for facilitating rotation of the ratchet wheel with the handle in either direction to consequently rotate the plate. r

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in presence of tWONVIlZHBSSGS.

JOHN c. -1vrC w N.

Witnesses:

F. S. MARTIN, .W. W'. W'ALL.

Copies of thil patent may be obtained for five cent: each, byaddrcssingthe Commlsfloner of intents,

Washington, D. 0. 

